Using the Go Menu in the Mac OS X Lion Finder

The Go menu in the Mac OS X Lion Finder offers many shortcuts. The items on the Go menu take you to places on your Mac — many of which can be found in the Finder window toolbar — and a few other places.

The following list gives you a brief look at the items on the Mac OS X Lion Go menu:

Back (Command+[): Use this menu option to return to the last Finder window that you had open. It’s equivalent to the Back button on the Finder toolbar, in case you have the toolbar hidden.

Forward (Command+]): This command is the opposite of using the Back command, moving you forward through every folder you open. Remember that if you haven’t gone back, you can’t go forward.

Enclosing Folder (Command+Up Arrow): This command tells the Finder window to display the folder where the currently selected item is located.

All My Files (Shift+Command+F): This command shows you all of your document files at once.

Documents (Shift+Command+O): You’ll probably use this command often, as the Documents folder is a great place to save documents you create.

Desktop (Shift+Command+D): Use this command to display the Desktop folder, which contains the same icons as the Desktop you see behind open windows.

Downloads (Option+Command+L): This opens your Downloads folder, which is where files you download in Safari, save as attachments in Mail, or receive via AirDrop are saved by default.

Home (Shift+Command+H): Use this command to have the Finder window display your Home folder (which is named with your short name).

Computer (Shift+Command+C): This command tells the Finder window to display the Computer level, showing Network and all your disks.

Network (Shift+Command+K): This command displays whatever is accessible on your network in the Finder window.

iDisk (Shift+Command+I): Use this submenu to mount your iDisk, another user’s iDisk, or another user’s iDisk Public Folder.

Applications (Shift+Command+A): This command displays your Applications folder, the usual storehouse for all the programs that came with your Mac.

Utilities (Shift+Command+U): This command gets you to the Utilities folder inside the Applications folder in one fell swoop.

Recent Folders: Use this submenu to quickly go back to a folder that you recently visited.

Go to Folder (Shift+Command+G): This command summons the Go to Folder dialog. Suppose you’re several clicks away from a folder that you want to open. If you know the path from your hard drive to that folder, you can type the path to the folder in the Go to the Folder text box (separating folder names with forward slashes [/]) and then click Go to move (relatively) quickly to the folder you need.

Connect to Server (Command+K): If your Mac is connected to a network or to the Internet, use this command to reach those remote resources.

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